Gate structure.



J. J. HINES.

GATE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION rum) FEB.23, 1911.

1,026,163. Patented May 14. 1912.

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UNITED STATES FTENT OFFICE.

JESSIE JAMES HINES, OF I-IOUSTON, TEXAS.

GATE STRUCTURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssm Janus I'IINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Gate Structure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fencing, and more especially to gates of the tilting variety; and the object of the same is to construct a gate of this character almost entirely of T-iron for the purpose of greater strength and lightness.

In carrying out this object I also accomplish other objects, all as will appear from the following specification describing the preferred manner of constructing my improved gate, as shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of this gate and the preferred manner of mounting the same so that it can be tilted by hand by a person on horse back or in a vehicle to open the gate when he is approaching it and to close it after he has passed through. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged perspective details of parts of the gate which will be referred to hereinafter, Fig. 3 being a modified form.

IVhile my gate is not necessarily employed in connection with mechanism for tilting it, I have so shown it in the drawings herewith wherein is represented a pair of posts P at one side of the roadway R and a pair of latch posts L at the other side, the gate G being hung between the former and standing between the latter when it is closed. The upper inner corner of the gate by preference carries a weight 7 of a size to pass between the posts P when the gate is tilted open by means of the hand levers H, and this weight Will then rest upon a stamp or supporting post or peg S as desired. Sometimes the body of the gate may be covered with wire mesh or coarse fabric as indicated at M, for the purpose of keeping chickens and smaller animals from passing through the gate when it is closed, but this detail and in fact the means for supporting and operating and (if used) for latching the gate, form no part of the present invention details of which I will now describe.

In so far as possible this improved gate is constructed almost completely of T-iron comprising a flat flange, and a web projecting at right angles from the center of said flange. The gate frame comprises top and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 610,226.

bottom bars 1 and 2 and inner and outer upright end bars 3 and 4 whereof the latter normally stands bet-ween the latch posts L and the former (3) stands between the supporting posts P which are separated some little distance as shown in Fig. 2 so as to leave room for the links L to have proper movement. The top bar 1 and the upper halves of the end bars 3 and 4: form one member, and the lower bar 2 and the lower halves of the end bars form another member, the T-iron being bent at right angles where the horizontal parts merge into the upright parts as shown. The webs at the lower extremities of the upper member are cut off and the flanges 5 bent outward and thence downward into lips as best seen at the right of Fig. 1 which are riveted as at ('3 to the flanges at the upper extremities of the lower member, thereby making very neat joints to unite the two members into a single frame.

I should have made the distinction that the webs of these members project inward toward the center of the gate, rather than projecting horizontally toward the door yard as do the webs of the members hereinafter to be described; and as a result the latter members are more readily connected with the webs of the two frame members just described.

The numeral 10 designates the major diagonal brace leading from the upper inner corner of the gate to its outer lower corner, and this also is of T-iron with its Webs cut away at the center of its length as seen at 11 and its extremities secured to the Webs of the two frame members in a manner to be described below.

The numeral 12 designates the minor diagonal brace which leads from the upper outer corner of the gate to a point near its lower inner corner and passes through said cut away portion 11 of the major brace as will be seen in Fig. 1, its outer extremity being also connected with the web of the upper frame member in a manner to be described below.

The numeral 13 designates a truss or what might be called an oblique brace leading from a point at about the center of the upright inner end 3 of the gate downward and outward to a point on the bottom bar 2 about where shown, and both its extremities are connected with the web of the frame in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The numeral 14. designates a strut brace connecting the lower inner corner of the frame with the center of the truss 13 so as to hold the latter rigid at a point where the strain occurs when the gate is tilted. It will be observed that this strut has its web 140 projecting outward in Fig. 2, and it may be disposed this way or the opposite way which latter I prefer when the additional strut 15 is employed as shown in Fig. 3. The latter member is formed as a continuation of the minor brace 12, though by preference deflected slightly from the line thereof at the point 16 so that its extremity may be directed to the lower inner corner of the gate as is the extremity of the strut 1.4. When both these elements are used, their webs obviously project in opposite directions and they give double strength to the truss 18 at a point where strength is most needed. In all corners of the frame of the gate, the flanges of all oblique members lie against the Webs of the frame members and are riveted thereto as at 17, whereas the flanges of the main braces are riveted to each other as at 18 where they cross, and similar rivets are used to connect the minor brace 12 and its extension 15 with the truss 13, these rivets being elongated when the strut 14 is employed as will be understood.

Thus is built up an extremely strong and yet light gate frame, braced against distortion when strain occurs, and doubly braced if both struts 14 and 15 are em ployed. Instead of rivets, bolts might be used if it were ever desired to disconnect the elements of which the gate is made. When the webs interfere with the crossing or lap- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

ping of the elements, they are are cut away in a manner with which iron workers will be familiar.

All parts of this improved gate are by preference of metal, painted or otherwise treated to prevent rust; and the size and proportion of parts are matters of no moment.

The specific means for tilting the gate form no part of the present invention, further than that the tilting mechanism needs a truss 13 and a strut 14 (or two struts 14 and 15) because considerable strain is brought upon this part of the gate in the act of tilting it from the closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to an open position, and the reverse.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

The herein described gate comprising a frame, a major diagonal brace extending from the upper inner corner to the outer lower corner thereof, a truss brace extending across the lower inner corner of the frame, and a minor diagonal brace extending from the upper corner of the gate to about the center of said truss brace, riveted thereto, and then extended to the inner lower corner of the frame, the ends of all said braces being riveted to the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JESSIE JAMES I-IINES.

\Vitnesses M. R. CUTHBOTUM, LoUIs N. YARBROUGH.

Washington, D. G. 

